Jaro District's Old Neighbourhood

The largest among the seven districts of Iloilo City, Jaro is tucked between two rivers, Dungon Creek and Jaro River. During the colonial period, affluent Spanish-Filipino families built residences here out of their fortune from foreign trade and sugar plantations. Hence, it was dubbed as "The Mestizo District of Iloilo”. 

It is a common Spanish town layout that a church, town hall, government buildings and rich family mansions live in poblacion or town center. Ledesma, Lopez, Montinola, Javellana, Hofileña and Jalandoni are some household names within the area, so as the mansions they used to own.

Old photo of the Jaro Cathedral. (Photo credits to John Tewell)

Jaro has a concentration of elite families and thus became the ecclesiastical capital of Western Visayas with establishment of Archdiocese of Jaro. The European-inspired Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Parish or Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, officially known as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles is located across the main plaza. The miraculous image of Our Lady of Candles was said to be growing so its shrine was placed at the upper part of cathedral’s main façade.

The lofty Jaro Belfry’s location was unusual as the setup is usually seen Ilocandia, standing few meters away from the church. Main reason was probably the tower served as a sentinel to guard the town from marauding pirates.

The Lopez Mansion, also known as Nelly’s Garden is considered as the Queen of all mansions in Iloilo. Built in 1928 by Vicente Lopez y Villanueva and Elena Hofileña y Javellana. The mansion was named after the couple's eldest daughter, Nelly Lopez y Hofileña

 

Sanson-Montinola Antillan House is reminiscent of the Gaston house in Silay City, Negros Occidental. Owned by Don Gregorio Montinola y Lozada and Doña Matilde Jalandoni y Habana, It was built at around the turn of the 20th century.

Montinola-Jalandoni Mansion was built in 1928 by Rodrigo Araneta Montinola and Feliza Jalandoni. It is neary Wawa Heritage Restaurant.

Ledesma Mansion was first owned by Rosario Lopez Javelona and her husband Don Luis Ledesma.

 

Lopez-Vito Mansion has the ground floor now a bank (Isla Bank) while the upper quarters are closed throughout the year. The windows however are flung open every February 2, when Jaro celebrates the feast of our Lady of Candles.

Arguelles-Jalandoni Mansion located near Jaro plaza used to be a private residence building of the late Doña Agatona Arguelles Jalandoni and presently owned by Mr. Carlos Jalandoni. The first floor was turned to commercial spaces.

Tienda Antigua on the corner of Benedicto Street, used to be an antique shop offering interesting finds like, furnitures, lamps, religious art sculptures and more. Now, it is for sale.

Lizares Mansion, it was once the mansion of the Lizares family, built in 1937 by Don Emiliano Lizares for his wife Conchita Gamboa, but was now turned into a school, Angelicum School Iloilo.

 

The flagship pasalubong store of Iloilo, Biscocho Haus, has its main branch here. I had my Pancit Efuven fix here, and bought some delicacies such as butterscotch and biscocho before going back to the airport.

Good thing they preserved some of the grandiose mansions turned to museums, such as Nelly's Garden and Casa Mariquit. Someday, I'll pay visit to them and have foodtrip on its old bakeries and heritage restaurants.